A doctor claimed he knew why I had cancer. When he told me, I was scared and embarrassed.

As a cancer survivor, watching the Netflix show “Apple Cider Vinegar” felt like a gut punch. The show captures the exhaustion and hopelessness of many cancer patients, and the compelling temptation to ditch traditional medicine for the promise of a “natural” cure. It also exposes the dark underbelly of the alternative health industry—a world where codes and influencers prey on the vulnerable. They speak with incredible conviction, yet their claims are backed by zero peer-reviewed evidence.

I know this all too well… because I almost fell for it myself.

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I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in December 2022. I immediately started scheduling consultations with surgeons, but most appointments were pushed back to mid or late January due to the holidays. After waiting a few weeks, I decided to use the time proactively – or so I thought – and met with Dr. T, a holistic medical doctor, to find out if supplements could help my health while I waited for treatment.

While Dr. T fully supported my decision to pursue surgery, she referred me to another holistic practitioner, Dr. D, who specializes in thermography. She explained that thermography—a thermal imaging technique that maps blood flow on the surface of the breast—can potentially identify areas of abnormal heat associated with inflammation or tumors.

What caught my attention was her offhand comment that Dr. D claimed that a breast cancer patient was “cured” without surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. As a science writer who was passionate about holistic medicine, I was intrigued. Can Thermography Detect My Cancer? I decided to find out.

When I arrived at Dr. D’s office, I noticed it felt more like a spa than a medical clinic—a welcome change from the windowless rooms with fluorescent lighting where I received my breast screens.

The thermogram process involved nine thermal images taken with a special camera, followed by a “cold challenge” where I dipped my hands in cold water to see how my body reacted. I was told that healthy tissue cools in sync with the brain’s signals, while cancerous or inflamed areas resist the change and show up as hot spots on thermography.

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I was excited, but I couldn’t ignore the red flags: thermograms are not approved by the FDA as a standard test to detect breast cancer, and the technician operating the machine was a doctor’s wife.

After waiting 30 minutes for my results—an eternity that made me uncomfortable—Dr. D finally called me into his office. And then, things took a strange turn.

First, he showed me the rainbow-colored thermogram report and admitted that it didn’t find my cancer—in fact, he was clearly frustrated by the imaging failure. Instead, it just showed “excess heat” in the area, which put me in the “high risk” category.

Then, he explained his theory: My cancer was caused by “too many COVID vaccines,” and I shouldn’t get another one. I was too surprised to answer. Not only is there no evidence linking COVID vaccines to breast cancer or other “turbo cancers,” this claim is contradicted by my personal history.

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“What about the fact that my mother had the same cancer, in the same breast, at the same age?” I asked.

He flatly denied this. “No, it’s definitely the vaccines,” he insisted, before moving on to his next pitch: Super Mineral Water, a product he sold at the clinic, which he claimed could “destroy” my body and possibly help me heal.

By then, I was equally horrified and embarrassed—not only by his indifference, but by my ignorance in getting into this mess. I grabbed my things and quickly left.

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After my experience, I turned to the Internet and stumbled upon some comment boards about thermograms. One post led me to the story of Morgan Dillian, a believer in homeopathic medicine who chose a thermogram over a mammogram to detect cancer when she felt a lump in her breast. According to the report, the thermogram doctor told Delian that she could not see the lump but warned that she had a “low to moderate risk of developing invasive breast tissue.” Months later, finally after a mammogram and biopsy, she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.

Stories like Delian’s are sobering reminders of the potential dangers posed by unproven screening tools and alternative therapies. From coffee enemas and Gerson therapy (a real-life version of the Hirsch method in “apple cider vinegar”), black salve, intravenous vitamin C, the alkaline diet, homeopathy, and energy therapy, these practices are heavily marketed by doctors, chiropractors, and clinicians, even though they lack proven evidence and proof that they work.

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So why are so many people still attracted to these alternatives? Part of it, I think, is the temptation to control in a moment when you feel paralyzed with terror. A cancer diagnosis takes away from your agency – your body feels like a traitor and your treatment plan is dictated by a team of specialists who have seen you. Alternative medicine offers the illusion of empowerment and personal care. Quacks don’t bother you with statistics, side effects or limitations – they offer hope and simplicity. In a world where cancer treatment is scary or difficult to understand, this simplicity and hope can be incredible.

After my diagnosis, one of the best things I did was learn to trust my cancer team and the science that guided them. I let go of my wishful thinking – imagining a “wonderful healing experience”, like Mila’s Tropical Hirsch Retreat in “Apple Cider Vinegar”. Instead, I embraced the stark reality of white hospital walls and a windowless operating room, where my surgeon expertly removed my tumor and left me cancer-free.

Now, I get one Annual mammogram and MRI of the chestrecommended screening protocol for women like me high risk and has firm breasts. I also take tamoxifen daily, a preventative medicine that I will take for at least five years, or as long as my oncologist advises. why? Because she is the expert – not me.

Science saved my life. It saves lives every day. Yet, we are at a dangerous moment when people are becoming distrustful of the regulators and scientific communities tasked with protecting them, while blindly trusting politicians and influencers who profit from our vulnerability. »apple cider vinegar” It exposes the dark side of these charismatic characters – people who lie as easily as breathing. It’s a stark reminder of why we need to trust science now, more than ever.

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The question is: Will we listen?

Note: Some names and identifying characteristics have been changed in this article to protect the privacy of individuals.

Jenny Durant is a science writer, researcher and breast cancer survivor who has a book about the decline of bees. Island Press In 2026. Her work appeared in San Francisco Chronicle, Grist, conversation, salon and other outlets. Contact her a link, jenniedurant.com Or check out her research Google Scholar.

This piece was previously published on HuffPost and re-shared as part of HuffPost’s personal “Best of” series.

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